Snowshoe



Dec. 23, 196 9 "r. I... NOVAK ET AL 3,484,958

SNOWSHOE Filed Oct. 16, 1967 IO A8 Q, INVENTORS THOMAS 1.. NOVAK TANLEY NQVAK 5g 2/ BY ATTORNEYS 3,484,958 SNOWSHOE Thomas L. Novak and Stanley Novak, St. Clair Shores, Mich., assignors to Northlite Industries Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 675,449 Int. Cl. A63c 13/00 US. Cl. 36-4.5 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A snowshoe having a metal frame and nylon webbing, including folding joints centrally of the longitudinal dimension of the frame for folding the snowshoe about a central transverse axis therethrough, means for compressing the folded snowshoe transversely, including cross bars having pivot and locking structure centrally thereof and a pivot connection at one end of the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to winter sporting equipment and refers more specifically to a snowshoe, including means permitting folding of the snowshoe about a central transverse axis therethrough and means for permitting compressing the folded snowshoe transversely.

Description of the prior art In the past snowshoes have generally been constructed of a wood frame with rawhide webbing laced to and extending between points on the frame. The snowshoes of the past have often been hand-made. I

The prior art snowshoes are heavy, particularly when the wood and rawhide are wet. Furthermore, the rawhide webbing is subject to deterioration by the elements and is sometimes eaten by wild animals, such as porcupines.

In addition, the snowshoes of the past in any of the three major configurations, commonly designated Alaskan trail, Michigan, and bear paw are large and inconvenient to store or carry for possible emergency use. Snowshoes have not therefore always been available in the past when the need for them was greatest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a snowshoe is provided which may be constructed in any of the above indicated configurations and which is capable of being collapsed into an extremely compact package for storage and carrying.

In addition, the snow shoe of the invention is constructed of life-time materials, not subject to absorbing moisture so that it is particularly light.

Also, the collapsible snowshoe of the invention is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and efficient in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a top view of a snowshoe constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the snowshoe of FIG- URE 1 showing a boot strap in conjunction therewith.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the snowshoe of FIGURE 1 in a folded, partly compressed condition.

FIGURE 4 is an illustration of a pair of snowshoes as shown in FIGURE 1 in the completely folded and compressed condition positioned in a carrying case therefor.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the folding joint in the snowshoe frame showing the snowshoe frame in a folded condition.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivot I United States Patent 0 and locking joint in the cross bars of the snowshoe of FIGURE 1 with the joint in an unlocked, partially pivoted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The folding snowshoe 10 includes the frame 12 and webbing 14. Cross bars 16 and 18 are provided extending between portions of the frame. 12, as shown in FIG- URE 1.

The frame 12 is constructed of tubular or solid spring stainless steel and includes the four separate portions 20, 22, 24 and 26. As shown in FIGURE 1, the front ends of the portions 20 and 22 of the frame 12 are flattened and connected together by a pivot pin 28. The back ends of the portions 24 and 26 of the frame 12 are connected together by the metal band 30, also as shown in FIG- URE 1.

The adjacent ends of the frame portions 22 and 26 and of the frame portions 20 and 24 are connected for folding about a transverse horizontal axis 32 through the snowshoe 10 by means of folding joints 34, as shown best in FIGURE 5. The folding joint 34 includes a pivot pin 36 extending through the adjacent ends of the portions 22 and 26 of the frame 12, as shown in FIGURE 5, and a ferrule 38 having two connecting cylindrical portions adapted to fit snugly around the ends of the frame portions 22 and 26 when the frame portions 22 and 26 are aligned to prevent pivoting thereof into the position shown in FIGURES with the snowshoe 10 in use. The ferrule 38 is urged into locking position over the ends of the portions 22 and 26 of the snowshoe 10 and against the abutment 40 provided on the adjacent end of the portion 22 of the frame 12 by means of the spring 42 acting between abutment 44 on the portion 22 of the frame 12 and the ferrule 38.

The cross bars 16 and 18 extend between the frame portions 20 and 22 and the frame portions 24 and 26, respectively, as shown best in FIGURE 1 and are spring steel bars. At their outer ends the cross bars 16 and 18 are pivotally secured to cylindrical brackets 46 secured at appropriate locations on the frame portions 20, 22, 24 and 26, as shown in FIGURE 1. The cross bars 16 and 18 are each provided with a central pivot and locking joint 48, as shown best in FIGURE 6.

The pivot and locking joint 48 of the cross bar 16 illustrated in FIGURE 6 includes an elongated slot 58 in the end of the portion 50 of cross bar 18 at the inner or adjacent end of the cross bar portion 52. A further L-shaped slot 60 is also provided in the adjacent end of the cross bar 50, as shown in FIGURE 6. The adjacent end of the cross bar portion 52 includes the L-shaped staked-out portion 62, as shown best in FIGURE 6, which fits within the opening 64 provided in the side of the cross bar portion 50 by the L-shaped slot 60. A pivot pin 66 extends through the cross bar portion 52 and the elongated slot 58 in the cross bar portion 50.

In use, with the portions 20 and 22 of the frame 12 spread apart transversely so that the pivot pin 66 is at the outer end of the slot 58 in the cross bar portion 50, as shown in FIGURE 6, and with the cross bar portions 50 and 52 aligned, the staked-out portion 62 of the cross bar portion 52 will be aligned with the axial portion of the L-shaped slot 60, so that when the frame portions 20 and 22 are allowed to move together under their normal resiliency, the slot 58 will move so that the pivot pin 66 is in the opposite end thereof. At this time the staked-out portion 62 of the portion 52 of the cross bar 16 will be firmly held in the axial portion of the L-shaped slot 60 in the cross bar portion 50 to prevent relative pivoting of the cross bar members 50 and 52 out of axial 3 alignment until the frame portions 20 and 22 are again spread apart. Due to the horizontal attitude of the pivot and locking joint 48 in use, the joint 48 is particularly strong in the vertical direction, as will be understood by those in the art.

The webbing 14, is non-absorbent, non-ravelling nylon mesh of, for example three-eighths inch squares. The webbing 14 is cut in the shape indicated in FIGURE 1 and may be reinforced about its edge by stitching or, for example, with canvas cloth or nylon binding 69. The webbing 14 is then laced onto the frame 12 by the braided nylon lacing 68. Additional lacing 70 may be provided as desired to reinforce the webbing 14 or to provide an ornamental design.

The flap 72 having the snaps 74 thereon is provided to give the toe opening 76 in the snowshoe 10. In addition, the flap 72 provides the dual function of holding the bootstrap 78 in position on the snowshoe 10.

In use of the snowshoe 10, the snowshoe, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, may be used as any other snowshoe to facilitate walking on snow, thin ice and the like. In such use the snowshoe because of the particular folding joint 34 and pivot and locking joint 48 used in the construction thereof will be particularly rigid, as for example, the usual wood frame and rawhide snowshoe would be. The snowshoe 10 however because of its completely stainless spring steel and nylon construction will be about half as heavy as the prior art snowshoe without soaking of the prior art snowshoe and will be even lighter than a prior art snowshoe in use which has absorbed moisture, since the materials of the snowshoe 10 are non-absorbent. Also, there will be no danger of the snowshoe 10 deteriorating due to weather extremes or being eaten by animals due to the particular materials of which the snowshoe 10 is constructed When the snowshoe is not in use, the ferrules 34 are moved forward and the folding joints 34 folded, as shown in FIGURE 5, to permit folding of the snowshoe 10 about the transverse axis 32 therethrough. Either before the folding joints 34 are broken, as shown in FIGURE 5, or thereafter, the pivot and locking joints 48 of the cross bars 16 and 18 may be unlocked and pivoted, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, on spreading the portions 20 and 22 and 24 and 26 of the frame apart. The snowshoe 10 in the folded position may then be compressed transversely so that a pair of snowshoes 10 will fit into a carrying case 78, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The carrying case 78 may be approximately fifteen inches long by three inches deep by four inches wide and is provided with the closing flap 80 and the front pocket 82.. The front pocket 82 includes its separate closing flap 84 for carrying the boot straps 78.

Thus the snowshoe 10 provides a simple, economical and efficient snowshoe in use which may be conveniently collapsed so that it may be carried in, for example, emergency vehicles, such as police cars, aircraft, ski-mobiles and the like in a minimum space and with a minimum of additional weight to be used when desired. The snowshoe 10 is also considered to be of particular use to the hunter and ice fisherman in view of the added safety provided thereby and the compactness of the collapsed snowshoe.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated by the inventors.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A snowshoe comprising a snowshoe frame, snowshoe webbing secured to the frame, cross bars extending between portions of the snowshoe frame, and means operably associated with the frame, webbing and cross bars for permitting collapsing of the snowshoe, including pivot and locking joints operably associated with the cross bars for permitting transverse compressing of the snowshoe.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for permitting collapsing of the snowshoe further includes folding joints in the frame at transversely opposite points for folding the snowshoe about a transverse axis therethrough.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the folding joints comprise a pivot connection at centrally located adjacent ends of frame portions, a ferrule slidably positioned on one of the frame portions and resilient means for urging the ferrule over the pivot joint between the frame portions with the frame portions in alignment.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame includes separate frame portions on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and further including a pivot joint at one end of the frame portions and means securing the frame portions together at the other ends thereof.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame includes at least one cross bar extending transversely of the snowshoe having separate portions with ends terminating adjacent each other centrally of the snowshoe, an axially extending slot and an L-shaped slot in the adjacent end of one of the cross bar portions, a staked-out portion in the adjacent end of the other of the cross bar portions adapted to fit within the L-shaped recess in the other cross bar portion with the cross bar portions in alignment, a pivot pin extending through the axially extending slot in the one cross bar portion and through the other cross bar portion related to the staked-out portion of the other cross bar member to be in the outer end of the axial slot in the one cross bar member with the cross bar members aligned and the staked-out portion extending into the L-shaped slot in the one cross bar member, whereby on movement of the aligned cross bar members axially toward each other with the pivot pin in the outer end of the axial slot in the one cross bar member, the staked-out portion of the other cross bar member will extend into the axial portion of the L-shaped slot in the one cross bar member to lock the cross bar members in aligned position.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the webbing is non-ravelling, non-absorbent netting.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame and cross bar members are stainless spring steel.

8. A locking and pivot joint including cross bars having separate portions with ends terminating adjacent to each other, and axially extending slot and an L-shaped slot in the adjacent end of one of the cross bar portions. a staked-out portion in the adjacent end of the other of the cross bar portions adapted to fit within the L-shaped recess in the other cross bar portion with the cross bar portions in alignment, a pivot pin extending through the axially extending slot in the one cross bar portion and through the other cross bar portion related to the stakedout portion of the other cross bar member to be in the outer end of the axial slot in the one cross bar member with the cross bar members aligned and the staked-out portion extending into the L-shaped slot in the one cross bar member, whereby on movement of the aligned cross bar members axially toward each other with the pivot pin in the outer end of the axial slot in the one cross bar member, the staked-out portion of the other cross bar member will extend into the axial portion of the L-shaped slot in the one cross bar member to lock the cross bar members in aligned position.

9. A snowshoe comprising a snowshoe frame, snowshoe webbing, means for securing the webbing to the frame, means operably associated with the frame for permitting folding of the snowshoe about a transverse axis therethrough and means operably associated with the frame for collapsing of the snowshoe toward a longitudinal axis therethrough.

10. Structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame is constructed of form sustaining resilient material.

11. Structure as set forth in claim 9 and further including at least one cross bar adapted to extend transversely of the snowshoe frame and means for breaking the cross 5 bar to permit movement of the opposite sides of the snowshoe frame toward each other operably associated with the cross bar.

12. Structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for permitting folding of the snowshoe about a transverse axis therethrough includes a releasable joint on each side of the snowshoe frame, including a connecting member having cylindrical portions receiving end portions of the frame at the joint.

13. A snowshoe comprising a snowshoe frame, snowshoe webbing, means for securing the webbing to the frame and means operably associated with the frame for permitting folding of the snowshoe about a transverse axis therethrough, including a releasable joint on each side of the snowshoe frame including a connecting mem' her having cylindrical portions receiving end portions of the frame at the joint.

14. Structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein the frame is constructed of form sustaining resilient material.

15. Structure as set forth in claim 13 and further including at least one cross bar adapted to extend transversely of the snowshoe frame and means for breaking References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,410,702 11/1946 Arsenault.

, 3,060,600 10/1962 Howe.

FOREIGN PATENTS 247,736 l/1948 Switzerland.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

